Vovinam Dong Nai contributes gold medals to Vietnam's Vovinam Team at World Championship 2025

The 8th WVVF World Vovinam Championships 2025 took place from November 1 to 8 in Buleleng, Bali, Indonesia, featuring over 600 athletes from 26 countries and territories. The tournament included 45 medal events, comprising 26 artistic performance (quyền) categories and 19 combat weight divisions.

Thi Lai on the podium receiving the gold medal. Photo: M.H

The Vietnamese Vovinam team participated with 51 members, including one coach from Dong Nai, Huynh Minh Hai, and two athletes: Thi Lai (women’s combat, 63kg category) and Nguyen Manh Phi (team performance event – Tinh Hoa Luong Nghi Kiem Phap).

On November 4, Thi Lai delivered an outstanding performance, showcasing dominant form throughout the competition. In the semifinals, she overwhelmed Ouattara (Ivory Coast) with a flawless 10–0 victory.

In the final, facing Indonesia’s Kartika Dewi, Thi Lai struck decisively, knocking out her opponent just 30 seconds into the match to claim the world championship title.

Thi Lai celebrates her gold medal at the World Vovinam Championship. Photo: M.H

Identified and trained directly by coach Huynh Minh Hai since 2020, the 18-year-old rising star has built an impressive record. In 2024, she achieved a remarkable hat-trick of titles: World Youth Champion, National Champion, and Asian Champion (all held in Indonesia). In 2025, she repeated the feat, earning her second consecutive “triple crown” with gold medals at the National Strong Teams Championship, National Championship, and World Championship.

Head coach Nguyen Tan Thinh, coach Huynh Minh Hai, and athlete Thi Lai after winning the gold medal. Photo: M.H

Following Thi Lai’s success, on November 7, Nguyen Manh Phi continued the triumph by defeating his Cambodian opponent to secure Vietnam’s second gold medal in the men’s team sword performance event.

Nguyen Manh Phi on the gold medal podium. Photo: M.H

Nguyen Manh Phi celebrates his World Vovinam Championship gold medal. Photo: M.H

Coach Huynh Minh Hai with athletes Thi Lai and Nguyen Manh Phi. Photo: M.H

The 2025 World Vovinam Championship once again affirmed Vietnam’s leading position on the international stage, while also marking a significant step forward in the development of the Vovinam movement in Dong Nai within the national martial arts landscape.

By Huu Trung – Translated by Trieu Ngan, Minho